US Women win 2015 World Cup
The US Women’s Soccer team won the 2015 Women’s World Cup with a notable 5-2 victory over reigning champions Japan in Vancouver, Canada this evening.
Carli Lloyd opened the scoring in just the third minute as she scored the quickest goal in a Women’s World Cup final. A low driven Megan Rapinoe corner from the right deceived a flat-footed Japan defence and Lloyd slotted home with the outside of her left foot from close to the penalty spot.
Lloyd then became the first player to score a hat-trick in the final of the tournament and she accomplished it in just 16 minutes. A crowd of 53,341 at BC Place Stadium, including Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., saw the US destroy Japan in a remarkable opening period as they built an invincible 4-0 lead.
Lloyd added a second in the fifth minute as a dozy Japan defence failed to defend a low free-kick from Lauren Holiday and the ball found its way, almost magnetically, to Lloyd who applied the finishing touch from close range. The game was as good as over in the fourteenth minute as Lauren Holiday added a third with a superb volley as Japan’s central defender Azusa Iwashimizu failed to deal with a Tobin Heath delivery. Holiday latched onto the rebounding high ball to smash the ball home to give the USA one hand on the trophy.
Lloyd then capped an amazing start to the game as she made it 4-0 just two minutes later. Grabbing the ball just inside her own half she advanced forward just over the halfway line before noticing Japanese goalkeeper, Ayumi Kaihori, off her line. She unleashed a sweet shot from 55 yards that the desperate back pedaling keeper could only fingertip into the net off the left hand post.
From that point on the USA was was never really threatened even though Yuki Ogimi scored in the 27th minute and Julie Johnston put through her own net in the 52nd minute as Japan closed the gap to 4-2. Any ideas that Japan may have had of a remarkable comeback came crashing to the ground as Tobin Heath quickly restored the three goal lead in the 54th minute with a tap in from a Morgan Brian cross after Kaihori was unable to deal with a corner.
After that it was plain sailing for the US who enjoyed their moment of redemption after losing to Japan in a penalty shootout in the final of the 2011 Women’s World Cup.
